title: Multiple sclerosis: BAFF and CXCL13 in cerebrospinal fluid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing evidence of B-cell involvement in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). B-cell activating factor (BAFF) has an essential role in B-cell homeostasis. The chemokine CXCL13 has an important role in the formation and maintenance of B-cell follicles.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure BAFF and CXCL13 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with MS compared to patients with other neurological diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytokine/chemokine levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In MS patients, BAFF levels were highest in patients with secondary progressive disease, and were higher during relapse in patients with relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive disease. CXCL13 levels were also higher during relapse. There was a positive correlation between CXCL13 and the IgG index, and an inverse correlation between BAFF and the IgG index. The implications of this finding are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During relapse, we found various positive correlations between BAFF, CXCL13 and the cytokines IL-6 and IL-10. These findings show that molecules that are essential for B-cell recruitment, survival, maturation and function may be working in concert to affect B-cell homeostasis in MS and contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. sragheb@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ragheb
authors.forename: Yanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: VanHaerents
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Riz
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fenoglio
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpini
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lisak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D015415:Biomarkers; C110663:CXCL13 protein, human; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015850:Interleukin-6; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D016753:Interleukin-10